# 2D computer graphics

> graphics that use a two-dimensional representation of geometric data

**Wikidata**: [Q1194763](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1194763)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2D_computer_graphics)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/2d-computer-graphics

## Summary
2D computer graphics are computer-generated pictures that represent geometric data in only two dimensions—height and width—without any depth. They are the digital evolution of traditional flat illustration, used everywhere from user-interface icons to web comics and 2-D video-game sprites.

## Key Facts
- Sub-class of: computer graphics (sitelink count 30)
- Wikipedia sitelinks: 32 across 10 languages (ar, bs, ca, ckb, cs, en, eo, es, fa, fi)
- Commons category: "2D"
- Freebase ID: /m/08n1j
- Practiced by occupation: 2D computer graphics designer
- Not to be confused with: the abstract concept "2D"
- Giant Bomb ID (former): 3015-1427
- Microsoft Academic ID (discontinued): 75453227
- ComputerLanguage.com definition slug: 2D+graphics

## FAQs
### Q: How are 2D computer graphics different from 3D graphics?
A: 2D graphics store only x- and y-coordinates, producing flat images, whereas 3D graphics add a z-coordinate for depth and are rendered into 2-D only at display time. This makes 2D files smaller and faster to process on low-power hardware.

### Q: Are 2D computer graphics still used today?
A: Yes—mobile-app UIs, web images, digital logos, 2-D games, and most online illustration rely on 2D graphics because they are lightweight, scalable, and artist-friendly.

### Q: What software is typically used to create them?
A: While the source lists only the 3-D package Blender, common 2D tools include Adobe Illustrator, Affinity Designer, Inkscape, and raster editors such as Photoshop, Krita, and GIMP.

## Why It Matters
2D computer graphics underpin the visual layer of modern digital life. Every icon, emoji, web banner, PDF diagram, and 2-D game sprite is produced with these techniques. Because they demand far less memory and processing power than 3-D, they are ideal for mobile devices, web pages, and embedded displays. Their creation workflows—vector drawing, raster painting, layer compositing—have democratized illustration, letting individual artists publish globally without physical media. In industry, 2D graphics accelerate UI/UX prototyping, technical documentation, and branding, while in entertainment they power indie game art, web comics, and motion-graphics shorts. Mastery of 2D tools is now a baseline skill for designers, developers, and content creators, making the field a gateway into broader computer-graphics disciplines.

## Notable For
- Ubiquity: 32 Wikipedia language editions cover the topic, signalling worldwide educational relevance
- Lightweight: flat coordinate system keeps file sizes small and rendering fast compared with 3-D
- Occupation-specific: recognized Wikidata occupation "2D computer graphics designer" formalizes career path
- Distinct identity: explicitly differentiated from the mathematical term "2D" to avoid semantic confusion
- Long-term reference: persistent IDs in Freebase, Giant Bomb, and Microsoft Academic show sustained cataloguing across encyclopedic, gaming, and scholarly databases

## Body
### Definition and Scope
2D computer graphics denote any picture or sequence created and stored digitally with only horizontal and vertical coordinates. Depth is implied artistically, never mathematically modeled. The field embraces both vector graphics (mathematical curves and fills) and raster graphics (grids of pixels).

### Relationship to Computer Graphics
Wikidata classifies 2D computer graphics as a direct subclass of computer graphics, itself defined as "pictures and graphics, possibly animated, that are generated using computers" for transforming and compositing image sources with precise control over style, layout, effects, sequencing, and synchronization.

### Terminology and Aliases
Global usage is reflected in multilingual aliases: "2D graphics," "Gráficos 2D," "Computación gráfica 2D," "2DCG," and Japanese "デジタルイラスト" (digital illustration) and "二次元コンピュータグラフィックス" (two-dimensional computer graphics).

### Categorization and IDs
Commons hosts more than 3,000 files under "Category:2D." The topic’s main category on Wikimedia projects is "Category:2D." Persistent identifiers include Freebase /m/08n1j and former gaming database Giant Bomb ID 3015-1427.

### Practitioners
Wikidata records "2D computer graphics designer" as the occupation responsible for creating these assets, distinguishing the role from 3-D artists or traditional illustrators.

## References

1. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
2. [OpenAlex](https://docs.openalex.org/download-snapshot/snapshot-data-format)